• Study extra about several types of snare drums.
• Perceive the essential variations in building, design, & tone.
• Uncover particular results snare drums that may boost your taking part in.

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From its use within the army to hold out particular directions, to being a particular impact instrument within the orchestra earlier than cementing itself on the coronary heart of jazz and rock — its significance has constantly grown.

The snare drum performs a singular function in every setting that it’s a part of. That’s the rationale several types of snare drums exist.

On this article, we’ll go over the varied sorts, showcasing every of their options and sonic variations.

Varieties Of Snare Drums

Live performance Snare Drums

In the event you’ve ever been to an orchestral efficiency, chances are high you’ve seen and heard live performance snare drums. They’re additionally known as orchestral snare drums for a similar purpose. Though their construct and design fluctuate, these don’t look a lot totally different from drum set snares. 

Building

Live performance snare drums usually have a configuration of 5″ x 14″ or 6.5″ x 14″. You’ll possible see these drums fitted with both triple-flanged or die-cast hoops.

These sometimes characteristic shells made from maple, brass, and metal, amongst different supplies. In addition they have a couple of snare wire set beneath the taking part in floor and superior snare strainers for max management. 

Historically, most orchestral snare drums have employed calf pores and skin drumheads as a substitute of plastic. The draw back is that they put on down shortly and are delicate to humidity and temperature.

Within the trendy age, nonetheless, drumheads such because the Remo Diplomats have turn into in style for live performance wants. Coated heads are used for the batter aspect, whereas skinny clear heads are used as resonant heads. 

Since an orchestral efficiency options a number of devices with totally different timbres, drummers usually must keep away from undesirable snare buzz (it’s fairly frequent to note a horn part in an ensemble setting them off).

As talked about, these come outfitted with a mixture of various snare wire sorts to deal with this problem. Widespread forms of wires embody coiled snare, cable, and coated wires. 

Live performance snare drums are mounted on a snare stand, and drummers play it standing. 

Tone & Tuning

A live performance snare drum sounds fairly drier than lots of its counterparts. Having a dynamic function in an orchestral ensemble, these drums are finely tuned and are sometimes fairly high-pitched. This permits orchestral drummers and percussionists to provide a variety of articulation. 

Some in style live performance snare drums embody the Pearl Philharmonic Strong Maple Snare Drum and the Black Swamp Multisonic Live performance Snare Drum.

Marching Snare Drums

Marching snare drums are designed particularly for marching bands and drumlines. Their sturdy design makes them wonderful for long-term outside use. These drums are fairly totally different from the same old drum set snares.

Building

For starters, the shell depth of marching snare drums is considerably deeper. They often are available configurations of both 9” x 14”, 10” x 14”, or 12” x 14” and are usually made from wooden shells fitted with die-cast hoops. One other key distinction is the presence of retractable legs and a service. This permits marching drummers to strap it to their physique and play the drum whereas being in movement. 

Marching snare drums use a mixture of various snare wire supplies. These vary from artificial intestine, carbon metal, and nylon to nickel-wound guitar strings (sure you heard that proper!).

All these snare drums additionally characteristic extra (between 2 – 6) air holes, augmenting their response to stay articulation. 

Tone & Tuning

Relating to tone, these have a darkish and dry sound, providing little or no maintain. Nevertheless, as a result of nature of its construct, they provide nice sonic projection. 

Being a bigger drum, the marching snare’s tuning course of is extra advanced than others. The method begins with tuning every wire independently with a screwdriver (to get them to the identical pitch).

As soon as executed, the vertical and horizontal facets of tuning come into play. That is executed to attain crisp rudimental coordination amongst a percussion ensemble.

Marching snare drums include drum keys with longer handles for simpler rotating at greater pressure. One such key’s the Pearl Hello-tension Tuning Key for Marching Drums. 

Some in style marching snare drum choices embody the Yamaha MS-9414 SFZ and the Pearl Championship Maple.

Piccolo Snare Drums

Piccolo snare drums are generally used as a side-snare possibility by drummers. It’s an lovely little snare drum that packs a strong punch. ‘Piccolo’ actually interprets to “small” in Italian. 

Building

A piccolo snare drum is often 13 inches in diameter and about 3 inches or much less deep. Constructed from wooden and metallic shells, it’s fairly just like an everyday snare drum in its construct. These snare drums mostly include triple-flanged hoops and coiled snare wires. 

Tone & Tuning

Appearances may be deceiving — you’ll be blown away by the intense and crisp ‘pop’ of a piccolo. Owing to the shut proximity between the batter and resonant heads, in addition they boast an extremely quick response.  

The tuning strategy to those drums is just like that of standard snare drums. Relying on the musical context, these may be tuned excessive, medium, or low. They are perfect for funk, neo-soul, reggae, and hip-hop kinds. 

In style piccolo snare drums embody the Pearl B1330 Brass Impact Piccolo Snare and the Mapex MPX Metal Piccolo Snare Drum. 

Drum Package Snares

When most individuals consider or point out a snare drum, they principally discuss with a drum equipment snare drum. These have been central to most ensemble taking part in since ragtime and blues. Be it for marking down the backbeats of two and 4 in rock or for a colourful, textural function in jazz.

Building

Drum set snare drums resemble live performance snare drums fairly carefully. These usually are available normal configurations of 5” x 14”, 5.5” x 14”, or 6” x 14”. There’s a big range of choices for contemporary drummers to select from with regards to shells.

Widespread shell supplies embody maple, birch, oak, metal, brass, copper, and acrylic. Every of those shells has distinctive choices and works nice in several kinds. 

Relying on the producer and the particular mannequin, among the most typical forms of hoops you might be certain to come back throughout are triple-flanged, die-cast, S-hoops, and wooden hoops. These drums characteristic a uniform set of coiled snare wires. You should purchase these in teams of 16, 20, 30, and 40. 

You could wish to sift by the anatomy of a snare drum for a deep dive into the person parts of a snare drum. 

Tone & Tuning

The tone of a snare drum largely will depend on the shell materials and thickness. Whereas wooden shells usually present a heat, muffled tone, metallic shells are identified for his or her explosive energy, particularly with rimshots. You possibly can create a variety of tones from having a set of three – 4 snare drums. 

These drums don’t have any fastened tuning fashion, as they’re meant to cater to totally different kinds. A high-pitched snare sound with loads of overtones is good for folks, Latin, and reggae kinds. In jazz contexts, a medium or low-pitched snare drum is nice for highlighting the snare wires’ coloration.

Relating to rock and metallic, a medium to high-pitched snare drum with large projection is often used.

Some in style snare drums embody the Ludwig Black Magnificence Snare Drum, DW Collector’s Collection Snare Drum, and the Mapex Black Panther Snare Drum.  

Different Particular Results Snare Drums

If you wish to add spice to your equipment sound, contemplate including an auxiliary snare drum. Additionally referred to as particular results snares, these snare drums are usually smaller in diameter than an everyday snare (10” – 13”) and are available various depths. 

Soprano Snare Drum   

The Pearl M1270, additionally referred to as the Soprano Snare Drum, is a particular results snare drum developed by Pearl. With a 12-inch diameter and 7-inch shell depth, the Soprano Snare is an optimum mix of the dry ‘barky’ tone of a piccolo paired with a ‘deep crack’.

Made from 8-ply maple wooden and fitted with triple-flanged hoops, these drums are perfect for high-pitch tuning and sound nice in funk, reggae, and Latin kinds. 

Fireplace Cracker Snare Drum

The Fireplace Cracker Snare is one other particular results snare that includes an 8-ply poplar shell designed by Pearl. Additionally accessible in metal shells, this snare is available in a 12-inch diameter and is 5 inches deep. If you wish to flip up the warmth at your subsequent reside efficiency, add a Fireplace Cracker snare and explode! 

Quick Fuse Snare Drum

One other nice instance of a secondary snare is the Quick Fuse Snare Drum. Developed by Pearl, this snare contains a 9-ply poplar shell. Of all of the particular results snare drums talked about to this point, that is probably the most compact.

With a 10-inch diameter and 4.5-inch shell depth, the brief fuse will seamlessly mix into your setup. The brief fuse will serve your musical wants if you happen to’re into fast-tempo kinds resembling DnB. 

Earlier than You Go

Simply as several types of snare drums exist, many alternative sorts exist worldwide. For an in-depth understanding of drums throughout totally different cultures and communities, see the information to all forms of drums and percussion. 

In the event you’re a drummer who’s caught, pondering which snare so as to add to your drum set, our suggestions on choosing the proper snare drum may be of nice assist.